Szczecin, Poland
About This Stop
Our European adventure continued with a journey to Szczecin, Poland, adding another country to our travel experiences. This less-touristed Polish city near the German border revealed itself as a delightful surprise with its beautiful architecture, family-friendly attractions, and memorable culinary discoveries that had us returning again and again.
Our journey and accommodation featured a multi-stage travel day from Berlin via S-Bahn and regional trains, entertaining two-hour layover in tiny Pasewalk, where we explored the town and found snacks, navigation challenge finding our Airbnb with a not-quite-accurate address, charming contrast of very old building exterior with beautifully remodeled interior, and coping with unusually hot weather (14 degrees above average).
Town circle and local discoveries included the vibrant town circle filled with food stalls and restaurants, kid-friendly trampolines that became an instant hit with Madison, enormous mall where we found practical necessities like a much-needed fan, beautiful cathedrals and majestic castles throughout the city, and City Hall with its massive surrounding park perfect for kids to run around.
Culinary adventures featured discovering 'Rose Donuts' that became a breakfast favorite with their variety of delicious flavors, finding Weit Box, the Vietnamese restaurant that became our go-to dining spot, multiple return visits to Weit Box (a true endorsement of its quality!), Kennedy and Tyler trying BBQ sandwiches at the Latin Brunch place, unexpected four-cheese frozen pizzas with dollops of tomato sauce, and finding 'the best peaches ever' – so good we bought every single one in the store.
Family activities included morning runs to start each day, Madison's favorite Jump House – just like ones in the US but with kids speaking Polish, fun adventures like getting caught in a downpour after dinner, shopping trips to the huge mall, and relaxed meals cooked in our apartment (despite the heat!).
Cultural observations included noting that 'kids are the same everywhere' at the Jump House, experiencing the European lack of air conditioning during a heat wave, navigating a less-touristed city with fewer English speakers, and appreciating the beautiful architecture and historic buildings. Szczecin provided us with an authentic glimpse into Polish life away from the major tourist destinations. The city's blend of historical architecture and family-friendly attractions created a perfect environment for our three-day stay. From jumping on trampolines to savoring rose-shaped donuts, from exploring magnificent cathedrals to developing a Weit Box dining tradition, our time in this Polish city offered simple pleasures and new discoveries. Though perhaps not initially on many tourist itineraries, Szczecin proved to be a worthwhile addition to our European journey, demonstrating that sometimes the less-traveled destinations hold the most charming surprises!
Our journey and accommodation featured a multi-stage travel day from Berlin via S-Bahn and regional trains, entertaining two-hour layover in tiny Pasewalk, where we explored the town and found snacks, navigation challenge finding our Airbnb with a not-quite-accurate address, charming contrast of very old building exterior with beautifully remodeled interior, and coping with unusually hot weather (14 degrees above average).
Town circle and local discoveries included the vibrant town circle filled with food stalls and restaurants, kid-friendly trampolines that became an instant hit with Madison, enormous mall where we found practical necessities like a much-needed fan, beautiful cathedrals and majestic castles throughout the city, and City Hall with its massive surrounding park perfect for kids to run around.
Culinary adventures featured discovering 'Rose Donuts' that became a breakfast favorite with their variety of delicious flavors, finding Weit Box, the Vietnamese restaurant that became our go-to dining spot, multiple return visits to Weit Box (a true endorsement of its quality!), Kennedy and Tyler trying BBQ sandwiches at the Latin Brunch place, unexpected four-cheese frozen pizzas with dollops of tomato sauce, and finding 'the best peaches ever' – so good we bought every single one in the store.
Family activities included morning runs to start each day, Madison's favorite Jump House – just like ones in the US but with kids speaking Polish, fun adventures like getting caught in a downpour after dinner, shopping trips to the huge mall, and relaxed meals cooked in our apartment (despite the heat!).
Cultural observations included noting that 'kids are the same everywhere' at the Jump House, experiencing the European lack of air conditioning during a heat wave, navigating a less-touristed city with fewer English speakers, and appreciating the beautiful architecture and historic buildings. Szczecin provided us with an authentic glimpse into Polish life away from the major tourist destinations. The city's blend of historical architecture and family-friendly attractions created a perfect environment for our three-day stay. From jumping on trampolines to savoring rose-shaped donuts, from exploring magnificent cathedrals to developing a Weit Box dining tradition, our time in this Polish city offered simple pleasures and new discoveries. Though perhaps not initially on many tourist itineraries, Szczecin proved to be a worthwhile addition to our European journey, demonstrating that sometimes the less-traveled destinations hold the most charming surprises!
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